Is it possible to install applications and/or OS's on an external hard drive?

Yes it is, but you won't be able to use them on different computers unless they're portable apps.

inb4 somebody says that it'll be noticeably slower. It won't make much of a difference at all (I know from first hand experience ).

Would i be able to install Win7 on a western digital external hard drive and run it on my Macbook?

No Windows can be installed on an external drive, sorry.

Many Linux distros can, though.

but i would be able to install windows applications on it and run them on my Win7 partition?

Yep that'd work.

Because I know that my partition isn't that large (20gb) so I can't install much, so if you're on the same boat, grab up a drive and install away.

What I suggest doing is adding a Program Files folder to your external, then when it's plugged in just change the install directory from C:Program files to G:Program files (G: depends on what yours is called).

Great yeah my partition is about 30 GB

I'm pretty sure you can. I think I remember doing it myself like a year ago. was using a firewire drive tho.


found this after some searching: http://tubeshards.wordpress.com/2006/12/05...tosh-usb-drive/

Except that requires doing a hack of the OS.

so i just install my applications to the External? ok i can do that.

Yep, just select the install location to your external and it should work fine. My friend does it all the time and it works flawlessly.

great. because i need an external SO bad lol

Well it wouldn't be much different than having two internal hard drives, you can install applications and programs on the one without the OS.

Most Macbooks use Boot Camp, so just install Windows 7 on Boot Camp, give it around 25GB (for programs) and use the external hard drive for files. Plus, on Boot Camp you still have access to Mac-only features, such as iSight.

He's currently dual booting with Boot Camp, but 25gb is only so much, and isn't enough for games.